FBI Charges NBA Players and Coaches with Leaking Insider Information to Bookmakers

^{Pictured: Former NBA player Damon Jones}

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, in cooperation with the FBI, has released an indictment in a major case involving illegal sports betting on NBA games. Among those charged are Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former NBA player Damon Jones.

According to prosecutors, the defendants allegedly shared insider information about player conditions and team lineups with third parties who used that data to place profitable bets. In some instances, the accused reportedly received a portion of the winnings.

FBI documents list seven NBA games under investigation:

• March 23, 2023: Rozier informed associates he planned to leave the Charlotte–New Orleans game early, enabling bettors to place lucrative wagers.
• March 24, 2023: Billups allegedly warned insiders that Portland would rest several starters ahead of their matchup with Chicago.
• April 6, 2023: One suspect received inside details about Orlando’s lineup rotation and bet on Cleveland accordingly.
• February 2023: Jones reportedly leaked information that LeBron James would miss a game.
• January 2024: He disclosed that Anthony Davis would face restricted minutes.
• January and March 2024: Former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter informed acquaintances in advance that he intended to leave games early, citing injury or illness.

Investigators estimate that tens of millions of dollars in wagers and winnings are tied to the betting schemes described in court filings.

The FBI investigation began following the case of Jontay Porter, who was banned for life from the NBA in April 2024 for betting on games and sharing insider information. Subsequent findings suggest that similar practices may have involved other active players and coaches as well.